Winter Starts at the Feeder

How to Prepare Your Horses and Livestock Before the First Freeze

Freezing mornings, muddy pens, and frozen water troughs—winter brings a different chore list. Preparing early helps keep your animals comfortable and makes daily care easier when the weather turns.

Whether you care for horses, cattle, sheep, or goats, start with three essentials: appropriate nutrition, dependable water, and protection from the elements.

1. Check what’s underneath that winter coat

A thick coat can hide weight loss. Look closely and use hands-on body condition checks rather than judging by appearance alone.

Identify animals that need extra attention before winter: growing youngsters, older animals, pregnant or nursing females, and those already struggling to maintain weight. Make sure quieter animals have enough space at the feeder to get their share.

2. Build your feeding plan around quality forage

Keeping warm takes energy, especially during cold, wet, windy weather. For horses, forage is particularly valuable because its fermentation produces heat while supplying nutrients.

Start by evaluating your hay and your animals’ condition. Hay testing can help reveal whether additional protein, energy, or minerals are needed. Good color alone does not tell you everything about nutritional quality.

Adjust feeding gradually. A sudden increase in grain is not a sound winter preparation plan. Choose feed for the animal’s species, life stage, and individual needs.

3. Put water at the top of your winter checklist

A full trough is only useful if your animals can drink from it. Check water sources regularly for ice, cleanliness, and proper operation.

For horses, reduced drinking can contribute to dehydration and impaction colic. University of Minnesota Extension recommends offering water between 45°F and 65°F to encourage drinking during cold weather.

Inspect heaters and cords, follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions, and have a backup watering plan. Provide dependable drinking water rather than relying on snow or ice.

4. Keep shelter dry—and let it breathe

Protection from wind and precipitation helps animals conserve energy. Provide enough sheltered space for every animal, including those lower in the group’s pecking order.

Keep bedding clean and dry. Enclosed buildings also need ventilation: trapping moisture and ammonia inside can compromise air quality. Pay particular attention to goats, which often avoid wet conditions.

5. Give horses individual blanket decisions

Some healthy horses with good winter coats manage well with shelter and appropriate feed. Clipped horses, older horses, thin horses, and those exposed to wet weather may need additional protection.

If you blanket, check underneath regularly for dampness, rubbing, and changes in body condition. A blanket does not replace nutrition or shelter.

6. Prepare before the storm

Review your hay supply, water equipment, bedding, and access routes before severe weather arrives. Discuss persistent weight loss, dental concerns, vaccination needs, and parasite management with your veterinarian. Planning ahead is especially important for animals with existing health challenges.

Feed thoughtfully. Prepare early.

At La Casa Del Grano, we manufacture our feed right here in Wapato, Washington, with fresh, premium ingredients and purposeful nutrition.

Stop in and talk with our team about feed options suited to your animals and your winter-feeding program.

Feed the Difference.